Edging apparatus



Patented Apr. 9, 1935 UNVPED STATE w noGING APPARATUs ,Villiamv J. Robertson, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to` Libbey-Gwens-Ford "Glass Company, Toledo,

Ohio, a corporation` of Ohio.

Application september 6, 1932,` serial No. 631,789

1oV claims.

The present invention relates to sheet glass edging apparatus and more particularly to novel means for Vmaintaining the glass being edged proper contact with the edging Stool.` a

use a continuous type of machine for the grind- -ing `and/ or finishing of the edges ofglass sheets. Broadly speaking, with sucha machine, Aa plurality` of sheets of glass to be edgedare vertically Y disposed. side `by side in spaced relation.relative` Vto one another and passed substantially,horizon-V tally over and `in. contact with one' or-a plurality p the machine; Ywould have atendency to' tip or` tilt eitherforwardly or rearwardly; This is particularly true ,when grinding the end edge of a sheet of glass `which is not disposed at 'right angles with respect to the side edges thereof, in which case the upper vend of the. sheet overbal-j ances the `lower end thereof and tends t'o throw" it out of proper contacting relation with the sui-,fr n

1" being supported: u pon and sliding over a stationary supporting member l5.V The upper edges of` facing'elements.' 1

It is therefore an important 4object of this invention to providenovel andirnpr'ovedmeans for use'upon edging machines Vof the. above Vcharacter by means of which it is possible to maintain glass sheets of varying contours in properoperative relationship with respect to the surfacing elements.

Another important object of Ithe'invention` is to provide'means for securing and maintaining' the glass sheets inproper contacting relation with the surfacing elements, and Yparticularly o those sheets wherein the bottom edges thereof being ground are not disposed atright angles with respect to the side edges, so that as a result the sheets assume an inclined kor slanting Vposition within the machine.Y l f Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of theA following description whentaken in connection withthe accompanyingdrawing. f

In the 'drawing forming a part of A this applica-VV tion and wherein like numeralsare employed to designate like parts throughout thersarne,l i f Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section; of a portion 'of an edging machine with which the present invention is incorporated, 'and Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Referring now to the drawing, there-is disvclosed an edgingmachine including a. supporting In the glass surfacing art,.-it is customaryfto `not been illustrated indetail since they consti- .i pusher devices I6. Each of these pusher devices `wardly in the direction indicated by the arrow in plan and comprises the side members 25 and' 26 carried by two'pairsof rollers `21 and 28 respecf (Cl. Y51``"i4=) v Y framework designated in its entirety by the 'nu-v meral Sand upon whichI is carried the horizontally arranged channel members 6 having `positioned therein thesuppor'ting runways r'l longitudinallygrooved as at 8. Also carried by the framework :i` 5 are a plurality of grinding and/orI polishing Wheels 9, only one of which has `been shown. However,` each wheel is adapted to be rotated `within a receptacle ID containing a suitable abrasive 4material and is driven from a shaft Ill through suitable gearing (notshwn)l The up- `per`portion of the surfacing wheel `Sl isv received within an opening between two adjacent. channel l members 6, and each wheel is provided with one f Y or moregrooves l2 around the periphery thereof. l5-1 These grooves are'in substantial horizontal align- Y ment with the grooves 8 in runways VL The par` ,Y ticular construction of `the surfacing wheel, tofi gether with the mounting and drivev therefor, have Y 20 tute noY part of therl present invention per se.' `Mounted above the runways 'l and to one side thereof is a horizontally disposed endless sprocket chain I3"trained at Veachfend ofits loop about a sprocket UL- the'upper run o'r flight of the chain the vertical side portions of channelmembers 6 i constitute guide'rails along which are slidable the Y' Y 3o I6 comprises a horizontallydisposed base member I1 resting upon and being slidable along the c hannel membersr, said base member carrying an upf` standingdog I8 engaging sprocket chain `I3I so that the pusher device is driven forwardly bythe lower horizontal flight of the said sprocket chain. Carried by or formed integral with the basemem-v ,ber I1 are the spaced vertical side portions IBj whichlcarry at each end thereof a pair of-superimposed pusherv rollers 26 having grooves 2l within which the rear vertical edges of the glass sheets |79 Vare adapted toiit so that the pusher device therefore serves to advance the glass sheets for- Fig. l.

Mounted abovey the sprocket chain I3 are the longitudinally extending spaced parallel rails 22 and 23cwhich slidably-vcarry the guide'member 24. This guide member is substantially rectangular in.A

tively 'which are supported upon 'and run along v `the rails 22 and 23. vThe rollers 21 and28 are mounted upon axles (not shown) but which extendtransversely `through the side members 25 55. i

and 25, and also carried by these aXles between 'p the said side members are a plurality of spaced fingers 29 maintained in properly spaced relation from one another and from the side members and 2t by suitable spacing collars' 31. In practice, the'front vertical edges of theglas's sheets IQ are adapted to be received within the spaces between the side members 25 and 26 and f intermediate fingers 29 so as-to guide the said sheets and maintainrtliem properly spacedfrom one another.

Arranged opposite each surfacing wheel 9 is a verticalstandard 33 provided with a vertical slot V34 in which is slidably mounted a block 35. The

block .'i Vand associated parts are supported by a cable S6 connected at one end to the block and passing upwardly over a pulley 3l carried by standard 33.

terbalance the block35 and the parts carried thereby.

` Carried by the block 35 is a forwardly directed horizontal pin'or trunn'ion 3? upon which lis pivotally mounted a sleeve 40. Carried by or formed .integral with this sleeve is agrod 4I upon which is slidable aweight l2 held in the desired adjusted position byra set screw 43. formed integral with the sleeve 4E and extending at substantially right angles with respect to 'thev rod 4I 'is an arm 44 carrying at its oute'rendl aV horizontal and forwardly directed shaft upon which is rotatably mounted a roller 46, preferably formed of rubber or a rubber composition material and being provided in its periphery with one Ona plurality of grooves 41 disposed in vertical alignment with the grooves I2 in the respective surfacing'wheelS. During the surfacing of the lower edges of the glass sheets I 9, the upper edges Y thereof are adapted to be receivedfwithin the grooves 4l in the corresponding roller 46. `The apparatus herein described may be used for edging either laminated sheets of glass or plainsheets lof glass as desired. Y

In the operation of the machine above de-v scribed, the glass Sheets IS to be treated areV first mounted upon one of the runways 'I vat the forward end of the machine and placed in position for movement horizontally over the surfacing wheels 9.

surfacing wheels. The glass sheets I9standing on edge with their edge to be groundfacing down- Ywardly, are vthen moved continuously forwardly f through the machine by the pusher device I6 and maintained iin proper spaced relation relative to one another by theguide member 24 as described hereinabove.`

The glass sheets are partially supported on Yedge upon the grinding wheels S Vvwhllebeing ground, while the runways 'I cooperate with the grinding wheels to guidingly supportV the sheets during grinding thereof. As the'lowe'r-erdges of the glass sheets engage each surfacing wheel, the uppervedges of the sheets 'will'move beneath and in engagement with the respective roller which will assist in maintaining the said sheetsin a vertical position and the lower edges thereof in ing wheel.l

The glass sheets I9 are shown in Fig. l as being substantially rectangular and of greater height contact with said surfac- Ythan width. It will of course vbe readily understood that when the lower edges of the glass sheets *to be ground are disposed at substantially right Secured to the opposite end of the cable is a counterweight 33 which serves to coun- Also carried by or With the particular lmachine herein' shown, Vive sheets of glass I9 (Fig. 2,),of similarshape and size are arranged side by side and movabley as a unit or group simultaneouslyover the wheels duringthe surfacing rearwardly. This is especially true when the lower edges of the glass sheets being ground are not disposed at right angles with respect to the side edges thereof, in whichcase the sheetsassume an inclined or slanting position within the machine in such a manner that therupper ends of the said sheets tend to overbalancethe lower ends and throw .the sheets out of proper contacting relation with the surfacing elements. For instance, as shown in Fig. 1, the lower edge 48'of the glass sheet IS is not disposed at right angles with respect to theside edges 49 and 56 thereof,

with the result thatin order ,to grind the lower edge 48, the sheet must be supported and maintained in Yaninclined or slanting position.

-In 4accordance Vwith the present. invention, f Y

means'is provided fo-r securing glass'sheets of this particular shape and also of similar shapes in proper position within the machine, and forY maintaining ,the .lower Vedges thereof in proper grinding engagement with the surfacing wheels 9 during the surfacingl operation. That isV to say, the instant' invention contemplates the provision of means for securing-the glass sheets. in an inclinedy or slanting position within the machine and for maintaining them in such position during the forward travel thereof over and in contact with the surfacing wheels. The means herein provided for this purpose comprises broadlymeans for connecting the pusher device I6 and respective guide member 24 together so as to maintain them in a deiinitely'xed relation and `thereby prevent, any relative movement there.- between' during `the vsurfacing operation. YSuch means includes a tie rod 5I secured at one endv to the pusher device `I6 as ,at:52,- and a second tie rod 53 secured at one end to therguide member 24 as at54.' The inner adjacentl ends of the two tie rods 5-l and 53` are threadedV and areV connected togetherby means of Ya turn-buckle 55.

In positioning the glass sheets I9 within the `machine, the said sheets are first stood on edge upon one of the runways 'i atthe forward end thereof and, while heldin the proper inclined orV slanting position with the` lowerv edges 48 horizontally disposed, the guide'member 24 and pusher device I6 aremoved to engage the front land rear substantiallyV vertical edges 4S andV 5I] The tie rods 5I and 53` Vare vthen connected'togetherrby the turn-buckle respectively thereof.

55 and the turn-buckle rotated to tighten the tie rods so as to secure the pusher device and guide member in engagement with the opposite side edges of the glass sheets. Inasmuch as `the pusher device and guide member are connected together so that there can be no relative movement therebetween, it will be apparent that the glass sheets will be firmly secured in 4proper position there-V between and will ,be prevented from rtilting or tipping forwardly `or backwardly during the grinding operation. As a consequence, the lower edges i8 of the glass sheets will be maintained in proper contacting relation with the `surfacing thereof.V Therollers y 46 engaging the upper'fedges ofthe glass sheetsA will also assist` in holdingthe lower edges of thel sheets incontact with Ythe' surfacing wheels.l l f It is to belunderstood that the form of the' in- `ventionvherewitl'i "shown and I describedisV to be takenas `the preferred "embodiment of the same, j and that Various changes inthe shape,` size and` arrangement lof A parts may be: resorted to without departing from the spiriti of the inventionv or the` scope of the subjoined claims.` l f f1 claim: w f i l.` In a machinefe'r grinding'an edge* ofla plate of. glass, the combination of vgrinding means uponwhich the glass is partiallyfsupported on edge while being ground, means cooperating with i e the grinding means for guidingly supportingv said plate of glass during grinding thereof, means engaging the rear edge ofthe glass plate for pushing the said plate forwardly over said grindg-,ing mea-ns, means engagingsaid pusher meansv for driving the same, means engaging the forward edge of the glass plate for guiding thesame during forward movement thereof, and means independent of said driving means extending beedge while being ground, means cooperating with the grinding means for guidingly supporting said plate of glass during grinding thereof, means engaging the rearV edge of the glassV plate for pushing the said plate forwardly over said grinding means, means engaging `said pusher means i for driving the Vsame, means engaging the forl ward edg'e of the glass plate for guiding the same during forward movement thereof, means independent of said driving means extending between and` connecting the said pusher and guide means for securing the `glass plate in position therebetween, and means `engaging the vupper edge of the glass plate to assist in maintaining the said plate `in a vertical position and in en gagement with thev grinding means.

plate of glass, the combination of grinding means upon which the glass is partially supported 'on edge while being ground, means cooperating with the grinding means for guidingly supporting said plate `of glass during grinding thereof, means engaging the rear edge of the glass plate adjacent the lower end thereof for pushing the said plate forwardly over said grinding means, means engaging said pusher means for driving the same, means engaging the forward edge of the glass plate intermediate its upperv and lower ends Vfor guiding the samel during forward movement thereof, andmeans independent of said driving means extending between and detachably'con- `necting the said pusher and guide means for securing the glass plate in position therebetween.

4. In a machine for grinding an edge of av I l plate of glass, the combination of grinding means upon which the glass is partially supported on edge while being ground, means cooperating with the grinding means forguidinglyV supporting said plate of glass during ygrinding thereof, means engaging the rear Vedge of the glass plate adiacent the lower endthereof for pushing the said plate forwardly over said grinding means, means engaging said pusher means for driving the same; means engaging the forward edge of theglass plate intermediate its upper and lower ends for securing `the 'glass platefin position therebetween, and movable meansl engaging the `upper-@edge 'of the glass plateV to lassist*in"maintainingethe said platein a vertical positionand in engagementV with the grindingme'ans 5. IIn' 'al machine. forVV grindingan ledge' of' a'. l plate of glass, the `combination of grinding means upon which'the glass iis partially supported `ony edgewhile being ground; means cooperating with guiding; the "same during forward VVmovementv thereof, means y independently of saidv drivingl 1 means extending between and detachably con# necting' the said pusher` and guide means .for l the grinding means for i guidingly supporting 'said j;

plate of `glass duringgrinding thereof, allpusher device engaging the"re2`t`i'edge` of the? glass plate for `moving'the saidplate forwardly'"mrer'isaidv grinding means, a guide member engaging thel forward edge of theglass plate for guidiA @the same during forward movement thereof, tie, rods respectively carried by-v said" pusher :device and guide member',` andl means for connestingfsaidi tie lrods together whereby: toV secure the said pusher device and guide Vmember `irrfixe'd relation'` relative to one another and the glass plate in position therebetween.. i

6. In a machine Vfor grinding an edge of plate of g1ass,the combination of grinding means upon which ther glass is partially supportedl on edge while being ground, means cooperating withV the grinding means for guidingly supporting said plate of glass `during grinding thereof,a pusher device engaging the rear edge of the glass plate for'moving the said plate forwardly over said grinding means, a guide vmemberengaging the forward edgejof Vthe glass plate for guiding the same during forward movement thereof, tie rods respectively carried by said pusher device and guide member, means for connecting said ,tie rods together whereby tosecure the lsaid pusher device and guide member inxed relation rela- `tive to one'another and the glass plate in position therebetween, anda rotatable rollerengagfing the upper edge of the-glass plate to assist in maintaining the same in a Vertical position l and in'engagement with the grinding means. 3. Ina machine for grinding an edge of a v'7. In a plate glass edging machine'of the character described, the con'ibinationl of grinding means upon which the glass plate is partially supported on edge while being ground, means cooperating with the grinding means `for guidingly 4supporting said plate of glass during grindingv respectto the bottom edge being ground, means engaging the rearedge of the glass plate for pushing the saidA plate forwardly over said grinding means, means engaging the forward edge of thel glass plate and cooperating with said pusher means for maintaining the said plate inpositionV therebetween, and `means engaging the upper edge of the `glass plate to assist lin maintaining said plate in a vertical position and in engagement with the grinding means.

8. In a plate glass edging machine of the characted described, the combination of grinding means upon which the glass plate is partiallyV supported on edge while being ground, means cooperating With 4the grinding meansk for guidingly supporting saidv plate of glassA duringgrinding thereof, said plate, during1 grinding, being in, clined in the plane of its face in such manner'that' the end edges thereof are not perpendicular with respect tothe bottom edge being ground, means means andlast-,mentionedmeans in xedrela- Y engaging the rear edge of the glass plate for push:

ing thezsaid plate forwardly over said grindingl means,gmeans engaging the forward edge of the glass .plate and cooperating with said pusher meansfor maintaining the said plate in position therebetween, means for maintaining said pusher Vengagemenewith the grinding .means Y, 9. In amachine ,forpgrindingan edge'of a plate 4ofglassjythe combination of grinding means upon Which-fthe glassfis partially'supported on edge while being groundLmeans cooperating with the Y grinding means for 'guidingly supporting said plate of glass during grinding thereofrmeans en-VA gagging the rear edge ofthe glass plate adjacent vthe lower end thereof for pushing the said plate forwardly over said grinding means, means engaging the forward edge ofthe glass platerintermediate its .upper and lower ends for guidingfthe same during forwardmmovement thereof, and:

'means extending diagonally of the* glass plate between and connectingV the saidpushermeans and guide means formaintaining the said plate in proper position. I l, .Y n 10.. In a machine'for grinding'an edge yofxa` plate of glass, thecombination of. grinding means upon whichthe glass is partially supported on edge. While-being ground, means cooperating with. e the grinding ,means for guidingly supportingvsaidY` plate of glass during grindingthereof, means'en-Y4 gaging the rear edge of the glass plate adjacent the lower end rthereof 'for pushing vthe said plate forwardly over 'said grinding means, means en-v gaging Athe forward edge of the glass plate intermediate its upper and lower ends for guiding the same during forward Vmovement thereof, and

Vmeans extending diagonally of the glassplate between and'A connecting the said pusher means and-guide means forimaintaining the said plate in proper position, said last-mentioned means being adjustable to move thepusher means and guidemeans horizontally toward or away from one another.

mLLmM J. ROBERTSON. A 

